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(No Model.)

G. H. ALLEN.

FOLDING TABLE.

Patented Sept. 15

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. ALLEN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 326,260,dated September 15, 1885.

Application filed November 26, 1884. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, refer- ,ence being had to the accompanying drawings,

and to the letters and figures of reference.

described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a bottom plan view of a table embodying my improvements, showing in full lines the legs thereof extended and in dotted lines the legs folded. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section on the line as a; of Fig. 1, showing thelegs in an unfolded position; and Fig. 3 is a similar sectional view showing one pair of legs in a folded position and the opposite pair partly folded. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modification, showing a single spring.

Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate like parts, A designates the table-top, of any preferred size. 13 designates cleats or battens secured to the under surface of the said top, near the ends thereof, and O the legs arranged in pairs at' each end of the table, each pair of which are connected at their upper ends by cross-bars O, which, when the legs are unfolded, fit snugly against the battens or cleats B B. Each pair of legs are hinged, as at c, to the under surface of the top, and relatively arranged so that when folded they lie fiat against the said top and beside each other, as shown.

D designates blocks or supports secured to the top a little beyond lines drawn through the longitudinal and transverse centers thereof, to which are secured one end of springs E, which are preferably made of wood, the outer free ends of which fit within {recesses d d,

formed in the cross-bars O of the legs, as

lies in a plane a little below the upper surface of the crossbar 0, thereby enabling the wooden spring Eto exert sufficient pressure on the said bar 0 to hold the legs in either an extended or a folded position without breaking it at about the point where it is secured to the block or causing it to lose its tension. When the legs are extended and in position for use, .the outer free ends of the springs E fit in the recesses d, and when they are folded against the top said free ends of the springs fit in the recesses (2, thus securely and firmly holding the legs in their unfolded or folded positions. The cross-bars G are preferably square in cross-section, and are of a thickness corresponding to the depth of the battens B, whereby when the legs are folded the said bars provide two additional bearing-surfaces for the table to rest on when it is placed wit-h its lower surface downward. A

It will be observed by reference to Fig. 3 that the end of the spring E lies in a plane parallel with the upper surface of the crossbar 0, within the recess thereof, thus permitting the table to rest squarely upon the bearing-surfaces above referred to.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4, which is particularly adapted for use on a sewingtable, I use a single spring, E, secured at its middle, as at e, to a single block or support, D, secured to the center of the table-top, the

outer free ends of said spring E being adapted to bear in the recesses (I when the legs are unfolded, and in the recesses d of the cross bars when the legs are folded.

I am aware that it is not broadly new to provide a single spring secured at its middle directly to the table-top and having the outer IOO ends thereof bear against folding legs, and hence do not claim such construction.

I attach importance to securing the springs to the block or supports secured to the tabletop. Such an arrangement of parts enables me to employ springs made of wood. By the employment of the blocks or supports the springs are less liable to become broken at the point where they are secured to the blocks, as there is less strain on them. I also attach importance to my peculiar construction of the cross or connecting bars of the legs, as the same enables me to provide additional bearing-surfaces whereon the table may rest when it is desired to store the same, without in any way subjecting the parts to the danger of becoming broken, as the parts are firmly held 7 for the springs are employed is that the ends of the springs do not extend beyond the projections on the lower surface of table, whereby the wall and furniture are not scratched in storing the table.

Modifications in the form and proportion of parts can be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of my invention.

I am aware that it is not new to attach a metal spring directly to the under side of tabletops, said spring having perforated and bent ends adapted to engage with pins projecting from the cross-bars of the hinged legs.

I am also aware of the folding table or bench shown in Patent No. 137,658, dated April 8, 1873, and lay no claim to the devices therein shown.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a folding table, the combination of atop, legs arranged in pairs connected at their upper ends by cross-bars having recesses d, a block or support, and a spring secured to said block, the outer free end of which rests upon the cross-bar of the legs, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. In a folding table, the combination, with table-top, and a spring of wood secured at its I middle to the said block, and having its outer free ends adapted to bear against the crossbar within the recess dwhen the legs are folded, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. The combination, in a folding table, of the table-top, to the lower surface of which spring-supporting blocks are attached at unequal distances from the cross-bars of the hinged legs, two or more springs, and the hinged legs, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a folding table, the combination of a table-top having battens secured thereto near its ends, two pairs of supporting-legs connected at their upper ends by cross-bars having recesses 01 (2, blocks or supports secured beneath the top, near the center thereof and in a plane below the upper surface of the crossbars, and springs secured at one end to the blocks, and having their outer free ends bear against the cross-bars of the legs thereof, to hold the same in an extended or folded position, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a folding table, the combination of a top, A, having battens B secured to the under surface, near the ends thereof, two pairs of supporting-legs C O, hinged to said top, as at c, and connected at their upper ends by crossbars 0 0, having recess (1 (1 formed therein, as described, said bars being of a thickness equal to the depth of the battens B, blocks D, secured to said top, near the center thereof, and arranged in a plane below the upper surface of the cross-bars O, and springs E E, having one of their ends secured to the blocks, and their outer free ends adapted to bear against the cross-bars within the recesses thereof, to hold the same in an extended or folded position, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses. V

- GEO. H. ALLEN. Witnesses:

C. S. DRURY, H. 'I. BERNHARD. 

